The goal of the Bay Area Vegetarians is to share information promoting veganism, and connect/support the veg and animal rights community. What happens or doesn’t happens depends on each one of us, and in the long-run, determines how well we eat because most events should involve lots of vegan food (well, at least the ones that I’m involved with do!)

Does anyone have a special BAVeg event they’ve been thinking of organizing, but uncertain about how to get started?

Well, the first step is to email us with the date/time and let us know what you want to do. Just about any type of event (as long as all the food is vegan) and it’s open to everyone can be a BAVeg event.

Here are some ideas

vegan cheese tasting party

leaflet at a concert or summer fair

Mission food trek (Cafe Gratitude/Cha Ya/Herbivore/Udupi)

organize a dinner at your favorite veg restaurant

organize a Vegan Food Party at your favorite park or home

DIY skill share: have something to say or something to show related to veganism/animal rights? Let me know, we will be having regular Vegan Food Parties at the ocean-view community room at the Pacifica Library.

movie night: screen a movie related to veg/AR. either at your home, or community room

We look forward to hearing about the events you’d like to help make happen. Thank you!

Bay Area Vegetarians is returning to the 2010 SF Pride Celebration — this will be our 8th consecutive year with outreach at San Francisco PRIDE!

Once again, BAVeg will have an information booth in front of the Asian Art Museum, giving out thousands of pieces of literature promoting a more compassionate and cruelty-free lifestyle: veganism! We will also be leafleting during the Festival. [ Volunteer Sign-Up ]

Nora has been part of our outreach at Pride since the first year in 2003. She recounted one of her experiences about Pride leafleting:

One older man stopped after taking my brochure, looked at it for maybe 15 seconds, and said, “Wow. Thanks for ruining my day!” I started to reply, saying, “I’m sorry to ruin your day–I know this is upsetting–but thanks for caring so much about animals that it ruined your day to know how they are suffering.”

He said, “Actually, though it does kind of ruin my day to see this, I was being serious in thanking you. We need people like you out doing the dirty work of making people aware of this issue. Thank you for being here.”

This is what we are providing when we leaflet. Aren’t you glad you know about how the animals are treated so that you can choose to do something about it? Give others that opportunity to make a difference, as well! And give the animals an opportunity for people to consider their plight.

Please use this sign-up form if you’re interested in helping to make a more veg*n world by:

While previous outreach experience is helpful, it’s not necessary. We just ask that you’re a friendly person, already vegan, or vegetarian transitioning towards vegan, who can reliably show up at the event. If you have questions, you’re welcome to email us directly or post a comment in the blog.

While financial donations to support the cost of outreach at Pride are gratefully accepted, as a small, grassroots all-volunteer organization, we depend even more on your volunteer support of your time and compassion to make our outreach at Pride successful this year. Last year, as in previous years, we were the only veg group distributing information at this progressive two-day event. Please sign up to help today to spread the veg message. Donations are welcome via check to Bay Area Vegetarians, P.O. Box 371215, Montara, CA 94037-1215.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts in the past, and to everyone who will help us this year. Thank you to East Bay Animal Advocates for sponsoring/organizing the marching contingent in the Pride Parade this year. So be sure to mark your calendars for that weekend, and reserve your spot today!

Dr. Christine Dickson relaunched the Secrets of Vegan Baking Classes with theme class of “The Chocolate Trio” on March 27th at the San Mateo Whole Foods.

The class was sold-out, and unfortunately for those anxiously waiting for a cancellation, we had a full house.

Christine started the class with a bonus — sampling her delightful fudgie brownie bites.

Then the class officially began with the featured vegan desserts, Chocolate Cream-Cheese Bundt Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and then the Chocolate Hazelnut Torte. Christine had prepared samples of each dessert (pictured above at the beginning of the class).

During the class, Christine and volunteer assistants from the audience prepared each vegan delight. Both the Chocolate Chip Cookies and Chocolate Cream-Cheese Bundt Cake in class were also baked fresh in class and available for more sampling.

The next vegan baking class is “Berry Sweets” on Saturday, April 24th, at San Mateo Whole Foods.

Christine will share her secrets of baking delicious old-fashioned strawberry shortcake, raspberry tart, and blueberry muffins. Cost is $25 per person, and registrations are now being accepted. [ more info ]

Thank you to Christine for sharing her time and talents for creating egg- and dairy-free desserts. Most attendees at the class were new to vegan baking, and we look forward to our continued partnership with Christine and the Secrets of Vegan Baking to promote compassionate and cruelty-free baking in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro, Foster City’s first vegetarian restaurant, opened in early March. It’s entirely vegetarian, and the menu clearly distinguishes between what is vegan and vegetarian. Nearly everything on the menu can be made vegan.

It is a spin-off of an earlier restaurant in this same space, which was a mixed Thai restaurant with the same owner. The owner moved her original mixed Thai restaurant to another location in the same mall, and opened up this all vegetarian bistro.

There’s a nice bayside trail across the street, so bring your appetite and your walking shoes.

We’ve been waiting since the new year to make this announcement: Garden Fresh, a long-time favorite of the vegetarian community in Mountain View, has expanded to a second location in Palo Alto on Ramona Street. Palo Alto now boasts two vegan restaurants.